Emotional freedom is so essential — and often under-valued! 
Kiddo and I watched “Inside Out” (again) last night, and had some interesting discussions afterwards about how each character had an apparently “primary”/go-to emotion in charge, directing how things flow… Riley’s was Joy, her mom’s was Sadness, Dad’s was Anger, and then all the ones in the credits differed, too. And we guessed at what the primary emotions were for characters in books (like in Harry Potter), and people we know, and how those can change over time or under stress.
We talked about how important Sadness can be to really take time to feel (as the movie pointed out), and how harmful it can be to try to insist on someone being happy all the time… Riley couldn’t move forward in her new life until she really made room to acknowledge, accept, and share her sadness! And we talked about how Joy trying to “fix” everything wasn’t really helpful; the other emotions also needed to be allowed.
Meanwhile, in the Five Elements of Chinese medicine, there’s also a lot of emphasis put on the need for all the emotions to be processed and balanced, such that they nurture our growth.
Grief (and disappointment, etc) transform into Courage, Strength, Integrity, as we let the old fall away to be composted with the autumn — and each evening. This letting go of the Metal element (with each breath, and with the crap we clear from the large intestine!) makes space for the quiet, yin darkness of night, and winter, in which we take time to rest, reflect, and nourish seeds in the dark soil, so they’ll be ready to sprout forth in the spring, as well as each morning. In the Water element depths of winter, we transform Fear into Wisdom, with Trust in our own deep inner knowing.
Morning/springtime energy rises up to create change and growth — and if it meets resistance or obstacles, it can mean Anger or Frustration… which transform with Creativity, Kindness, and Generosity, to find a path forward that’s a win-win, rather than simply overpowering others (as can happen if Wood energy is out of balance).
Midday/summer is the time of Fire, of Joy and Excitement (sometimes out of balance with anxiety or over exuberance!), which brings forth the blossoming of our Hearts’ ideas and beloved creations — which also need to be balanced with Appropriate Timing, Sacredness, and Connection.
As these flowers turn to fruits of the harvest season (afternoon/late summer), the Earth energy transforms Worry and Overthinking into Trust, Compassion, and Abundance, knowing that we can take in and digest all our food, emotions, and experiences, when we compassionately, mindfully come back to our own center.
And then we return to Metal, to appreciate and Honor that which we have harvested, and to let go of anything no longer needed, to be Free to begin again…
There are many more nuances, of course, but I love this cycle as a reminder of how All Emotions are important aspects of ourselves and of what we wish to grow and harvest — even if sometimes uncomfortable! And, there are many practices to help Be With the discomfort, so that the process can return to more easeful Flow — tapping, qigong, breathwork, and daily activities, foods, sounds, movements, and herbs to help any element or emotion in question. Such richness, to enjoy the dance with them all! 
Cheers to this new year, embracing and supporting Emotional Freedom for All. 
